Mainland and Macau Ferry Services

The Marine Department manages two cross-boundary ferry terminals: the China Ferry Terminal (CFT) with 13 berths and Macau Ferry Terminal (MFT) with 12 berths. The CFT opens from 7 am to 10 pm daily and the MFT operates round-the-clock.

Immigration and Quarantine Services

Immigration and quarantine services are available 24 hours a day at the Western Quarantine and Immigration Anchorage and from 6 am to 6 pm at the Eastern Quarantine and Immigration Anchorage. A shipping agent may apply for immigration and quarantine services, including advance clearance, for a ship.

    The Tuen Mun Immigration Anchorage operates 24 hours daily for river trade vessels plying between Hong Kong and Pearl River Delta ports. Pre-arrival clearance (PAC) has been extended to Mainland River/Coastal Trade Vessels (MRCTVs). All MRCTVs may apply for the PAC facilities. MRCTVs operators who are interested in the scheme may submit applications to the Harbour Control Section of the Immigration Department.

Mooring Buoys

The Marine Department provides 53 mooring buoys in the harbour area for ships to work cargo. There are 28 class 'A' buoys for vessels up to 183 metres in length and 25 class 'B' buoys for vessels up to 137 metres in length. Booking of these mooring buoys is made through the Vessel Traffic Centre.

Bunkering

Bunkering is readily available at commercial wharves and oil terminals or from a large fleet of private bunkering barges. Fresh water may also be provided alongside berths or from a private fleet of water boats.

Ship Repair and Dry-docking

The port has extensive facilities for repairing, dry-docking and slipping all types of vessels of up to 150 000 dead-weight tonnes. Local shipyards are able to build and maintain workboats and pleasure vessels. The Marine Department provides a free inspection and advice service to promote safe working practices in ship-repairing, ship-breaking, cargo-handling afloat and marine construction.

Public Cargo Working Areas

The Marine Department manages eight Public Cargo Working Areas, in which licensed cargo operators are allowed to load and unload cargo to and from barges and coasters. The total length of berths available in these working areas is 7 204 metres.

Reception of Marine Wastes

The Marine Department operates services provided by contractors to collect domestic refuse from ocean-going vessels and local vessels. The Chemical Waste Treatment Centre on Tsing Yi Island provides facilities to handle oily and chemical wastes from ships. Registered contractors collect such waste from ships and deliver it to the centre.

Combating Oil Pollution in the Port

The Marine Department maintains a maritime oil spill response plan. The plan, in line with the standards that are expected of a world-class port, aims to ensure a timely and effective response to oil spills in Hong Kong waters.

    There is an information exchange network between Hong Kong and the neighbouring ports in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Macau. This enables information on a major oil spill incident in any one of these ports to be disseminated to the others immediately. A regional maritime oil spill response plan has been prepared for the Pearl River Estuary. The aim of this plan is to enhance the regional cooperation and practice in the event of a major oil spill incident occurring in any of the neighbouring ports.

    In November, the Pollution Control Unit of the Marine Department organised a large-scale oil spill clean-up exercise in which all concerned government departments and local oil companies took part.